Harlequinmania

you need a dedicated tank for your seahorse. They are extremely slow eater and especially so if you want to train them to feed on frozen you need to release the food in front of them to "Tempe " them to feed . Although some reefer mention that soaking the frozen mysis with Gallic will help as well.

Hawaii fish and tonga corals shipment tomorrow at irwanna 930am. Expect to see AT,YT, Kole tang, Goldflake, flame, pottery, lemon, hybird lemon and fishery. white and blue spotted puffer.. Tonga corals - exotic monti , acroporas, acan, green center organ pipes and many more..

Much less attention is paid to conservation of freshwater fish and shellfish species that to marine species, although freshwater species may be relatively more threatened. Awareness and certification schemes that have had some success raising awareness of threats to marine fishes could be adapted for the benefit of freshwater species, according to a new article. View the full article

Much less attention is paid to conservation of freshwater fish and shellfish species that to marine species, although freshwater species may be relatively more threatened. Awareness and certification schemes that have had some success raising awareness of threats to marine fishes could be adapted for the benefit of freshwater species, according to a new article. View the full article

Click through to see the images. When it comes to auto-top-off devices, reliability is king. AVAST Marine Works' ATO Kit is one intelligently designed top-off device. Unlike most ATO sensors mounted with suction cups or brackets, its direct magnet-mount allows for secure placement - an extremely important performance criteria for water level sensors. Using a pressure-sensitive switch, AVAST's ATO Kit "is capable of maintaining the sump water level within +/- 1/4" tolerance (1/2" overall) and features a built-in range buffer or hysteresis effect, which prevents rapid on-off switching that sometimes occurs when cheap float switches bob up and down in small waves." AVAST Marine Works has now added two new optional features to their ATO Kit, further improving its functionality and reliability. ♦ Digital I/O versions now have four specific aquarium controller compatibility options (Neptune, Profilux, Reef Angel, Digital Aquatics) as well as a bare-wire version that can be tied in to an existing breakout-box or similar existing input terminal block. ♦ All versions now have the ability to add a backup shutoff float valve in case something goes wrong with the controller or outlet switch/connection. As before, the magnet mount includes a handy ATO-tube holder fitting (which swaps out for the float). Details here: http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/rigging/Top-off-Kit The backup shutoff float valve is a $15 option ... a small price to pay for peace of mind. Take it from a victim of an ATO "gone wild": Safeties and redundancies are highly recommended. Part Number:ATO-KITPrice:$74.99 (USD) Technical Data: Water level sensitivity: 1/2" Magnet strength: up to 1/2" glass Magnet bracket dimensions: 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" Switch box dimensions: 4" x 2.25" Input power: AC 110v Relay box capacity: 3 amps Switch rating: 10+ million cycles Warranty: 1 year Made in the USA (Above): The ATO Kit with optional backup safety float valve. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Photo by Nick Hobgood Let's put their discovery in perspective: In just 67.8 square feet (6.3 square meters) of coral reef, scientists from the Smithsonian and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography documented more species of crabs than all of Europe's seas combined! The peer-reviewed paper is titled "The Diversity of Coral Reefs: What Are We Missing?" The paper's abstract concludes: "The finding of such large numbers of species in a small total area suggests that coral reef diversity is seriously under-detected using traditional survey methods, and by implication, underestimated." The proof is in the pudding This past summer, biologists from the California Academy of Sciences (including Steinhart Aquarists) traveled to the Philippines and cataloged over 500 potentially new species above and below the waves! Just a few months prior to CAS' expedition, Conservation International scientists conducted a 2 week survey of reef sites where they cataloged 953 species of reef fish and 397 species of coral, including nine brand new species. Hard as it already is to wrap your head around how many creatures call coral reefs home, it is humbling to know there are still plenty of new life in the rich tropical oceans we've yet to discover. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Photo by Nick Hobgood Let's put their discovery in perspective: In just 20.6 square feet (6.3 square meters) of coral reef, scientists from the Smithsonian and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography documented more species of crabs than all of Europe's seas combined! The peer-reviewed paper is titled "The Diversity of Coral Reefs: What Are We Missing?" The paper's abstract concludes: "The finding of such large numbers of species in a small total area suggests that coral reef diversity is seriously under-detected using traditional survey methods, and by implication, underestimated." The proof is in the pudding This past summer, biologists from the California Academy of Sciences (including Steinhart Aquarists) traveled to the Philippines and cataloged over 500 potentially new species above and below the waves! Just a few months prior to CAS' expedition, Conservation International scientists conducted a 2 week survey of reef sites where they cataloged 953 species of reef fish and 397 species of coral, including nine brand new species. Hard as it already is to wrap your head around how many creatures call coral reefs home, it is humbling to know there are still plenty of new life in the rich tropical oceans we've yet to discover. View the full article

Rising temperatures will force many species of animals and plants to move to other regions and could leave some marine species with nowhere to go, according to new research. View the full article

Rising temperatures will force many species of animals and plants to move to other regions and could leave some marine species with nowhere to go, according to new research. View the full article

Climate change is subtly altering average yearly and seasonal temperatures on land and water and looks set to have a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s coastal ecology, according to marine scientists. View the full article

Climate change is subtly altering average yearly and seasonal temperatures on land and water and looks set to have a significant impact on Northern Ireland?s coastal ecology, according to marine scientists. View the full article

Click through to see the images. From tangs to wrasses, angelfish to dogface puffers, we aquarists know our fish have personality. But this young Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) just might take home the congeniality award. The divers are clearly enthralled by their interaction with their new finned friend, so much so that you can sense smiles behind their masks. Can you blame them? Sadly, these gentle giants are being overfished and are at serious risk of becoming extinct. Both the scientific and local Caribbean communities recognize this threat and are stepping up conservation efforts to safe these beautiful animals. Yet, a long road and a lot more hard work is required as Nassau grouper populations are still on the decline. Beyond the importance of top predators for their ecosystems (including helping to control invasive lionfish populations), these fish are just way too personable to see them disappear forever. Perhaps if people had the opportunity to play with one in the wild, they'd think twice about fishing them for sport. View the full article

Click through to see the images. As always, send any questions to AmericanReef@me.com or sound off in the comments below. Watch The Video... View the full article

No need to take out your Bio-home since it is best to have those together. Bio pallets is purely solid carbon dosing when the pallets melt to remove N03 and P04, but do not use too much especially when you started.

i manage to keep my N03 to a very low level ever since i change to a bare bottom running with bio pallets. i almost couldnt believe it with the amount of fish i had in my tank . I have to test with 2 test kit just to confirm lol...

i dont think we can find this skimmer locally anymore

Click through to see the images. Imagine a LED lamp, a giant LED lamp. A 30-watt LED some 2.5 inches (~6.4cm) in diameter and that's what you've got with Blue Moon Aquatic's new P30 LED pendant luminaire. The difference between this product and most other LED luminaires currently on the market is much more than cosmetic. Instead of the more traditional approach, where banks of 3mm LEDs are stuffed into a rectangular housing, Blue Moon Aquatics started off with a clean sheet of paper and designed the P30 from the ground up. The P30 is presently available in two configurations - either with or without an annular 'Saturn ring' consisting of 6 blue LEDs. The unit can be upgraded later with the 'Saturn ring' in just a couple of minutes if desired (the upgrade procedure involves removing a threaded plate and plugging in the blue LEDs. Simple, with no fuss or rewiring). The P30 (30-1 watt chips)and the Saturn Ring's 6-3 watt LEDs. Shot at ISO 100, f/32, and 1/4000th of a second with post-processing to get this view! </h2><h2>Specifications The P30 is designed to be a pendent luminaire and suspended from the ceiling above the aquarium. There are no moving parts, as no cooling fans are involved. Heat is dissipated through a multi-finned cylindrical aluminum heat sink. Specifications are as follows: 2.5" diameter acrylic lens with 30 x 1-watt LED chips Power Consumption by 30 LED chips: 30w @ 0.26a @ 119.3v Optional 6 1/8" annular ring with 6 x 3-watt blue LEDs Power Consumption by 6 blue LEDs: 16-17 watts @ 0.14 amp @ 118.7 v Total Power Consumptions (all lights on, with option Saturn ring): 49w @ 0.41a @ 119.1v 9' 8" hanging cord (steel) Transformer (ballast) has individual on/off switches for blue & white LEDs 5' 6" power cord plug to transformer (ballast) 10' 6" power cord from transformer (ballast) to luminaire Corrosion-resistant aluminum housing Spectral Qualities Spectral quality of light illuminating a planted freshwater aquarium or coral reef tank is extremely important since the aquarist wishes to promote photosynthesis. In general, aquatic environments are deficient in warmer wavelengths such as yellow, orange and red. There are studies suggesting too much red in lighting for a reef tank is a cause of bleaching, where corals lose their symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium species). While ratios of red to blue light wavelengths have yet to be determined, we should look for reef lighting that offers minimal red (just enough to satisfy the visual requirements of the viewer) and are skewed towards cooler light such as violet and blue. Figure 1. Spectral Composition of P30 output when all LEDs are on. Figure 2. This pie chart shows the breakout of light quality presented in Figure 1. Table 1. Light quality of all LEDs in tabular form. Corrected % Violet0.5%Blue39.3%Green-Blue9.6%Blue-Green10.8%Green6.4%Yellow-Green15.8%Yellow4.5%Orange8.3%Red4.9%Figure 3. Spectral Composition of P30 output when only blue LEDs are on. Figure 4. This pie chart shows the breakout of light quality presented in Figure 3. Table 2. Light quality of only blue LEDs in tabular form. Corrected % Violet0.7%Blue46.1%Green-Blue20.8%Blue-Green23.7%Green5.7%Yellow-Green1.8%Yellow0.2%Orange0.3%Red0.7%Figure 5. Spectral Composition of P30 output when only white LEDs are on. Figure 6. This pie chart shows the breakout of light quality presented in Figure 5. Table 3. Light quality of only white LEDs in tabular form. Corrected % Violet0.5%Blue36.2%Green-Blue3.5%Blue-Green4.3%Green6.9%Yellow-Green22.8%Yellow6.6%Orange12.2%Red7.1% Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is the portion of visible solar (or artificial) radiation that promotes photosynthesis. It is usually defined as those wavelengths between 400nm (violet) and 700nm (red). It is measured with a PAR or quantum meter and is reported in units called micromol per square meter per second (µmol·m²·sec) but older references may use the unit of microEinsteins per square meter per second (µE·m²·sec). Either way, the PAR meter reports the number of light particles (photons) falling on a surface of a given give over a given time period and is called Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD). Sunlight, on a clear day at noon, is about 2,000 µmol·m²·sec but might be as high as 2,500 µmol·m²·sec (depending upon latitude and season). Although light requirements vary between different plants and algae (including zooxanthellae), a good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 100 µmol·m²·sec. For those using a lux meter, see here for conversion factors for various lamps: www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/review Light intensity falls as distance increases from the source. PAR was measured at various distances in air. Figures 7 through 11 demonstrate results. Figure 7. At a distance of 25 inches from the PAR sensor and when only white LEDs on, the P30 delivers ~80 µmol·m²·sec (or about 4,000 lux). Figure 8. Blue LEDs deliver a maximum of about 150 µmol·m²·sec at a distance of 25 inches in air. Figure 9. All lamps are on and deliver about 240 µmol·m²·sec at a distance of 25 inches. Figure 10. Light intensity of lamps at a distance of 12 inches. Figure 11. The maximum amount of light produced with all LEDs on is about that of maximum strength sunlight. Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) LEDs usually produce very little radiation unless specifically designed to do so. The LEDs used in the P30 luminaire do not produce any appreciable UVR. See Figure 12. Figure 12. Ultraviolet radiation production is practically non-existent. Many hobbyists mistakenly believe UVR is necessary in a reef tank in order to either promote production of fluorescent coral pigments or to induce fluorescence. UVR is almost always not required and the blue portion of these lamps spectra is sufficient to make corals glow. How High Above the Aquarium? The spectral quality of the P30 meets our requirements, and light intensity should be no issue. Placing the luminaire about 10 inches above the water's surface should deliver about 500 µmol·m²·sec. See Figure 13 for further information. Figure 13. Illuminated area diameter as a function of height above the aquarium when all lamps (white and blue) are on. Operating Temperature Excessive heat is an enemy of the reef aquarium. While warmer water has less ability to hold dissolved oxygen, impacts pH values slightly, generally encourages higher biological activity and others, it is temperature tolerance of zooxanthellae that should most concern the hobbyist. Figure 14 shows the relative amount of infrared radiation produced by the P30. Figure 14. Infrared radiation output is quite low. The P30 incorporates no cooling fan, and heat transfer is passively accomplished through a multi-vane heat sink. I was interested in recording the temperature of the P30's aluminum housing over a period of time. See Figure 15. Figure 15. P30 luminaire (with Saturn ring) temperatures (red line) over the course of 90 minutes. A small (but separate) cooling fan (not supplied by Blue Moon) was turned on at the 60 minute mark aiding in heat transfer and resulting in lower operating temperatures. The blue line represents reference temperatures taken in the room during the course of observation. As Figure 15 shows, the warmest part of the luminaire (the top) did not exceed about 125°F indicating this heat sink design is efficient. This temperature was significantly reduced when a small fan was used to aid in heat transfer. For comparative purposes, operating temperatures of various aquarium lamps are shown in Table 4. Table 4. Operating Temperatures of Various Aquarium Lamps Maximum Observed Operating Temperatures (°F) P30 LEDs1298 watt CFL131 - 16760-watt Incandescent247Metal Halide Lamps500 - 600Ballasts are often overlooked as a potential heat source of aquaria. I scanned the surface of the P30's ballast after an hour of operation and recorded a high temperature of 99.6° F. A reasonable temperature indeed, considering room temperature was ~85° F. However, it is probably a good idea to locate the ballast outside of the aquarium cabinet (if applicable). The generous electrical cord lengths should make this a relatively easy task. Comments The light output of the Blue Moon Aquatics P30 is impressive, especially when equipped with the option 6-LED 'Saturn ring'. PAR output by the P30 (with Saturn ring) approach (or in some cases exceed) that produced by many lower wattage metal halide lamps. What seemed impossible to many just a few years ago is now reality - this LED luminaire can complete with metal halides when used over coral reef aquaria of sizes commonly seen in homes. There are obvious benefits - reduced operating costs, low heat production and lamp longevity. An interesting heat sink has negated the need for a cooling fan (all too often the first item to fail in a warm, humid, and sometimes salty) environment. However, the use of a small cooling fan (such as those marketed to blow across the water's surface and aid in evaporation in aquaria) can significantly reduce the operating temperature of the LEDs, or more correctly, the temperature of the aluminum housing. LEDs produce more light at cooler temperatures (at least the lower end of those seen surrounding aquaria housing corals and tropical fish). Spectral quality will meet the needs of both freshwater and reef hobbyists. My opinion is this: Use the optional Saturn ring along with the P30 for marine fish and reef aquaria. The P30 without the Saturn ring should be fine for freshwater fish and planted tanks. Since the P30 combined with Saturn ring utilizes a central 'white' light source surrounded by an annular ring of 6 blue lamps (both with optics of different light dispersion angles), the interesting possibility of spectral tuning by altering height of luminaire is possible. Likes: Price - LEDs are now competitive with metal halide and fluorescent lighting systems Originality (and functionality) of design Light Output (PAR) Generous electrical cord lengths Blue and white LEDs cannot be separately controlled by a timer I have used nothing but LED luminaires for the last few years and have been impressed by the rapid improvements and price reductions. LEDs are here to stay, and I predict will antiquate within a decade other lighting systems used over even the largest of aquaria (yes, I'm speaking of large public aquaria). Specifically, I've had another Blue Moon Aquatics LED system in operation for over a year and report no problems with it. If that is any indication, I should get long, reliable service from the P30 luminaire. MSRP and Warranty [*]Recommended P30 Retail Price: $499 (U.S.), Saturn Ring: $119 (U.S.)[*]Warranty: 2-year warranty[*]Extended Warranty Available: No Testing Protocol Spectral qualities were determined through use of an Ocean Optics USB2000 fiber optic spectrometer. Raw data were exported to an Excel spreadsheet where corrected spectral information was generated with use of a proprietary program written by Dr. Charles Mazel. Electrical consumption was measured by a Kill-A-Watt meter manufactured by P3 International. Photosynthetically Active Radiation was determined with a LI-1400 quantum meter made by Li-Cor BioSciences. Temperatures were measured with a non-contact infrared thermometer. Contacts www.bluemoonaquatics.com Questions? Comments? Please leave them in the Comments section below, or email me at RiddleLabs@aol.com. The FTC requires us to inform you that the author was given the product gratis for review. View the full article

Good move on going bare bottom. It just make the tank cleaning much more easier.

No rics but only a few yuma left. Various nano fish and invert still available in irwanna. Good for for Nano tank keeper .

Traces of bizarre, bone-eating 'zombie' worms have been found on a 3-million-year-old fossil whale bone from Tuscany in Italy. It is the first time the genus Osedax has been found in the Mediterranean, and suggests Osedax were widespread throughout the world's oceans 6 million years ago. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Reef Octopus' new BR series bio-pellet reactors are all-in-one units complete with pumps. Simply add your preferred bio-media to the reactor, place the reactor in your sump, and you're good to go. The pump is neatly tucked below the reaction chamber, feeding water into the reactor while keeping the bio-pellet media in continual fluid suspension. Reef Octopus has announced the following three BR models: Model Diam Height Volume Pump For Aquariums BR-1000ss 120mm/4.7” 500mm/20” 1500ml pellets HY-1000w 640～940L (170～250Gallon) BR-2000ss 150mm/6” 500mm/20” 2000ml pellets HY-2000w 1300～1800L (350～500Gallon) BR-3000ss 200mm/7.9” 520mm/21” 2500ml pellets HY-3000w 1500～2200L (400～600Gallon) Reef Octopus also announced their upcoming hang-on protein skimmer: the BH90. This skimmer features a relatively large (by hang-on skimmer standards) OTP‐1000s pump equipped with a needle wheel. We expect this pump will put out plenty of flow and air compared to most hang-on skimmers on the market today. The pump is plumbed externally, which should result in reduced water heating. On the other hand, noise level is something we will need to confirm when the skimmer is available. Other features of the BH90 include: An integrated surface skimmer A waste drain built into the collection cup (to allow for an external waste collector) An air silencer Conical neck (uncommon with hang-on protein skimmers). PVC unions for quick servicing of the pump All in all, the BH90 appears very well-designed and may rival other hang-on skimmers for supremacy in terms of skimming performance. Coralvue (Reef Octopus' distributor) expects the unit to ship in December 2011. Price is TBD. View the full article

Scientists know that the blood and tissues of some deceased beaked whales stranded near naval sonar exercises are riddled with bubbles. It is also well known that human divers can suffer from bubbles-induced decompression sickness, also known as the bends. What researchers know comparatively little about is how living marine mammals handle the compression of lung gas as they dive deep and then resurface. View the full article

Click through to see the images. You're invited to join us for a day dedicated to the hobby of reef keeping. Hear presentations from industry experts, view coral fragging and mounting demonstrations and buy, sell or trade corals & equipment. $10 General Admission w/Speaker Pass GIRS Members get 10 Free Raffle tickets with paid Admission Click Here for Complete Pricing Info Children under 18 admitted for free if accompanied by a paying adult. Spouses of paying attendees/sellers eligible for discount admission. Seller admission includes speaker pass and generous table space. All current GIRS members in attendance will receive discount admission and an additional 5 free raffle tickets. To Pre-Register Online, Click Here View the full article

Click through to see the images. This article was republished in collaboration with Coralscience.org. Please visit Coralscience.org to read more accessible scientific articles about coral reef research. Zooplankton feeding is an important strategy for corals to acquire nutrients from the water column. Scientific studies have shown that scleractinian corals are capable of capturing and consuming significant amounts of zooplankton, including copepods and Artemia nauplii. Most research however has focused on quantifying prey ingestion. External feeding on zooplankton may also be important, and was first documented in 1902. New research by marine biologists from Wageningen University has shown that extracoelenteric feeding on zooplankton can far exceed internal feeding in terms of prey captured and nutrients acquired. Internal and extracoelenteric feeding on zooplankton provides scleractinian corals with important nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. These nutrients provide important elements for building new tissue, including nitrogen and phosphorus. Although zooxanthellae are able to translocate vital nutrients to their coral host, including glucose, glycerol and amino acids, research has shown that zooplankton supplementation can greatly enhance coral growth. In the wild, corals also consume small quantities of zooplankton, especially during and after dusk when crustaceans such as copepods swarm throughout the water column. Scleractinian corals employ intricate mechanisms of zooplankton capture, which encompass tentacle movement combined with cnidocyte firing and mucociliary feeding to ingest immobilized prey. It has long been known that scleractinian corals may also digest prey externally, by expulsion of mesenterial filaments as a response to prey detection. Mesenterial filaments are outgrowths that extend from the mesenteriesdapted to capturing invaginations of the polyp gastroderm that contain muscles, digestive and absorptive cells, and the gonads. Mesenterial filaments are heavily packed with cells that secrete digestive enzymes, and filaments can be extended from the polyp through the mouth or temporary openings in the epithelium. As, in this case, digestion occurs outside of the polyp coelenteron, this process has been coined extracoelenteric feeding. Close-up of a Galaxea fascicularis colony digesting an aggregate of Artemia nauplii externally with mesenterial filaments (white strands surrounding nauplii). Zooplankton feeding is an important means of nutrient acquisition for scleractinian corals. Image: Tim Wijgerde. In the past, marine biologists have quantified plankton capture and ingestion by coral polyps using histological techniques. By fixation and dissection of coral polyps, individual prey items can be visualized under a microscope. By counting and scoring prey numbers in a random selection of polyps, scientists can obtain a good estimate of plankton grazing by corals. Disadvantages of this approach are that extracoelenteric feeding processes are not taken into account, and that some prey items rapidly degrade before fixation. An alternative strategy is to use prey clearance rate. By exposing a coral in a known volume of water to a specific zooplankton concentration, prey capture can be determined by taking regular water samples over time. By counting the number of prey items in the samples using a microscope, the decrease in prey concentration over time can be monitored. By multiplying the decrease in prey concentration with the net volume of water the coral was incubated in, the total amount of captured prey can be calculated. This method works well and takes both intra- and extracoelenteric plankton feeding into account, however it fails to reveal the dynamics of prey capture, (extracoelenteric) digestion and release, obscuring realistic estimates of nutrient input from zooplankton. This is because (partially) digested and subsequently released particles are re-counted in the water column, which are therefore not considered as having been captured and digested. A third, more advanced approach is to employ video analysis. This method allows biologists to monitor coral behavior over time, including feeding. Recently, biologists from Wageningen University (The Netherlands) set out to record the feeding process of a scleractinian coral in full detail using video analysis, and came up with exciting results. A setup for video analysis of coral feeding processes. A flow cell contains a coral colony or single polyp, which is monitored with an HD camera. Water flow rate, temperature, light intensity, oxygen and plankton concentration can be manipulated, allowing for a wide variation of experiments. Image: Tim Wijgerde. Video analysis For their study, the Dutch biologists used the Indo-Pacific Oculinid Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus 1767). This species is hardy and has relatively large polyps that can be visualized easily with a digital camera. Single coral polyps were used to monitor feeding behavior. Artemia nauplii were used as a food source at a concentration of 10,000 individuals per liter of water, which were injected into the flow cell containing the coral. A high concentration of zooplankton ensured that prey capture could be recorded easily, and also allowed the scientists to determine how much plankton a coral polyp was able to consume under virtually non-limiting concentrations. Feeding behavior was monitored for six hours, and the experiment was conducted three times. After several runs, the video data was transferred to a computer. Eighteen hours of video were meticulously analyzed, during which prey capture, release and prey aggregate formation on the polyp surface were scored. The obtained results were striking. On average, a single G. fascicularis polyp was able to capture 558 and release 383 nauplii over a six hour interval. Interestingly, 98.6 percent of all prey captured was not ingested. Instead, prey items were clustered in aggregates that were digested externally by mesenterial filaments. Over the entire six hour period, prey capture and release rates decreased, indicating satiation of coral polyps. After 300 minutes, capture and release rates became similar, stabilizing aggregate sizes at 176 nauplii per polyp. Galaxea fascicularis, a common Indo-Pacific stony coral, capturing and digesting Artemia salina nauplii externally by expulsion of mesenterial filaments. Artemia are paralyzed by the potent nematocytes present on the tentacle surface. Mucus production and nematocyte action ensure prey items remain attached to the polyp surface. Overview of the external feeding mechanism of a single G. fascicularis polyp. Shown are 10 seconds of each hour of incubation, from 0 to 6 hours. Video is representative for all polyps used (N=3). Overview of Artemia nauplii capture and release dynamics of single polyps of G. fascicularis. A. Numbers of captured and released Artemia nauplii, and their net result, shown in 30 minute intervals. B. Cumulative capture, release and aggregate size. Values are means ± s.d. (N=3). Image: Wijgerde et al., Journal of Experimental Biology, 2011. These findings were quite astonishing, as until now, corals were thought to digest the bulk of their captured prey internally. The next question was how much nutrients could actually be taken up from extracoelenteric digestion of nauplii. To address this issue, a new series of experiments was carried out for which whole Galaxea colonies were used. Analysis of Artemia nauplii To estimate the role of extracoelenteric zooplankton feeding in the diet of G. fascicularis, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents of Artemia nauplii were analyzed after various treatments. Nauplii were treated in three different ways: they were either immediately frozen after hatching, incubated at 26 degrees Celsius as a control or fed to G. fascicularis colonies. Negative controls and fed nauplii were incubated for six hours, and the experiment was conducted six times. Captured nauplii were removed from coral polyps with a Pasteur’s pipette. Controls were used for this study as Artemia nauplii may decrease their nutrient content due to their own metabolism—live Artemia nauplii continue to consume their yolk sacs during experiments. After each experiment, collected nauplii were washed in deionized water and nauplii numbers were scored under a microscope. To determine the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content of the nauplii, two different methods were used: high temperature catalytic oxidation for (in)organic carbon and continuous flow analysis for (in)organic nitrogen and phosphorus. By correcting all data with negative controls, the amount of lost nutrients—resulting from the coral's digestive enzymes—per prey item were calculated. The obtained results showed that mesenterial filaments, expelled by Galaxea polyps through the polyp epithelium, were indeed able to break down Artemia nauplii. On average, about 44 percent of the available organic carbon was lost after a six hour incubation with G. fascicularis colonies, in contrast to the negative controls. For nitrogen and phosphorous, a loss of approximately 51 percent was found. Interestingly, about 84 percent of all inorganic phosphorus was lost, which might have been absorbed by the coral’s symbiotic algae, or lost due to diffusion into the surrounding water. Loss of total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON), total organic phosphorus (TOP) and inorganic phosphorus (PO43-) content expressed in absolute (μg/Artemia) and relative (%/Artemia) values of captured Artemia nauplii after six hours of incubation together with G. fascicularis colonies. All values were corrected for negative controls. Values are means ± s.d. (N=6). Image: Wijgerde et al., Journal of Experimental Biology, 2011. Combining video data with plankton analysis By multiplying the amount of nutrients lost per prey item with the number of prey captured by Galaxea polyps, the marine biologists were able to estimate the daily nutrient input from zooplankton feeding, hereby taking extracoelenteric feeding processes into account. The assumption was made that nutrients lost were absorbed by the gastrodermal cells lining the mesenterial filaments. The final results, obtained by combining video data with nutrient analysis of Artemia nauplii, were quite surprising. From their calculations, the scientists found that when taking extracoelenteric zooplankton feeding into account, daily nutrient inputs from feeding are much higher—about twenty times higher—than previously estimated. Although several caveats still exist, such as potential nutrient loss due to leakage into the water column, the importance of extracoelenteric feeding on zooplankton has been clearly demonstrated. Future studies will address the effects of prey size and concentration on the balance between intracoelenteric and extracoelenteric feeding. Preliminary results have already shown that at 1,000 Artemia nauplii per liter, extracoelenteric feeding and aggregate formation can still be observed. Another question which has to be addressed is to what extent extracoelenteric feeding on plankton occurs in the wild, on coral reefs. The take home message from this research is that corals are voracious predators, perfectly adapted to capturing unsuspecting prey from the water column with their cnidocyte-bearing tentacles. Download the full paper from the Journal of Experimental Biology website. References Wijgerde T, Diantari R, Lewaru MW, Verreth J, Osinga R (2011). Extracoelenteric zooplankton feeding is a key mechanism of nutrient acquisition for the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis. Journal of Experimental Biology 214(20): 3351-3357 View the full article

Click through to see the images. This three-mouthed Scolymia is one of the most incredible specimens I've seen ... in essence three "Ultra" Scolys fused into a symmetrical rosette. Bright reds, neon greens, and purple bands ... just one of these polyps would turn every coral lover's head. And to think it almost never made it State-side! The flight was delayed 24 hours due to a typhoon in Hong Kong, which meant this coral had to endure over 72 hours in transit. It was also initially offered to an overseas customer, but fortunately for ACI Aquaculture (who sold it to coralgasm.com which was then almost immediately sold to a US coral enthusiast), it was turned down due to the price. It's hard to imagine how any one can turn this piece down. Chris Meckley at ACI Aquaculture (wholesale only) named this specimen the Tri-Master Scoly. ACI launches a WYSIWYG photo gallery after each shipment (check out photos of other amazing corals). To no one's surprise, when the Tri-Master Scoly was posted, it immediately started quite a buzz. This is one bizarre Bleeding Apple. This Scolymia is actually a double-mouthed coral, but it probably isn't what you think. The top is not an oversized mouth nor polyp, but rather the remnants where a coral or rock had broken off during shipping. The two mouths are located on opposite sides beneath the center protrusion. The coral had simply grown up and around whatever was in the middle. Chris Meckley says "It's really interesting to ponder how these solitary animals formed such unusual growth patterns." Anyone want to venture their guess? Finally, here is a "Grade A" (one grade below "Ultra") triple-headed green and purple Scolymia. Three distinct polyps are lined side by side, arranged from smallest to largest, like the three lil' piggies. It's not quite as cool as the other two, but any cluster of Scolymia is nothing to sneeze at. Got an exceptional coral you'd like to share with Advanced Aquarist? Let us know! View the full article